Droughts accompanied by high temperatures are becoming increasingly frequent across Europe and globally. Both individual trees and entire forest ecosystems are exposed to drought stress, with prolonged drought periods leading to increased tree mortality. Therefore, continuous monitoring, data collection, and analysis of tree mortality are essential prerequisites for understanding the complex interactions between climate and trees. This study examined the effects of short-term and prolonged (multi-year) droughts on the mortality of individual trees and forests in Serbia. The analysis was based on datasets from our previous research on the influence of drought and drought duration on individual tree mortality in Serbian forest ecosystems, supplemented with new data collected through the International Co-operative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests (ICP Forests). Additionally, we incorporated data from the public enterprise (PE) “Srbijašume”, which manages forests in Central Serbia, focusing on random yields resulting from natural disasters (droughts). These data enabled a comparative assessment of the findings on increased mortality and drought impact at both the individual tree level and the stand level. This study identifies key similarities and differences in tree mortality trends based on drought duration and examines their correlations within the same time frame (2004–2023). By analysing climatic conditions across Serbia, we provide evidence of the interaction between drought periods and increased forest mortality, which we further confirmed by calculating the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). We also address the tree species that were most sensitive to the effects of drought. Our findings indicate that prolonged (multi-year) droughts, accompanied by high temperatures, have significantly contributed to increased tree mortality over the past decade. Successive multi-year droughts pose a substantial threat to both individual trees and entire forests, producing more severe and persistent responses compared to those caused by single-year droughts, which forests and individual trees are generally more capable of tolerating. Moreover, due to prolonged drought stress, trees weaken, leading to delayed mortality that may manifest several years after the initial drought event. The observed increase in tree mortality has been found to correlate with rising temperatures and the growing frequency of prolonged droughts over the past decade. Especially, intense droughts in the growing season (April–September) have a very negative impact on forests.

The common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) can be used in forest ecosystem monitoring as a model for assessing environmental changes. Its long lifespan and wide distribution make it a suitable bioindicator of atmospheric deposition, soil acidification, and stress related to climate changes. Numerous studies have shown that foliar analysis of beech reflects both regional trends in acidic depositions and heavy metal input, as well as local pollution gradients. Crown defoliation and vitality parameters further complement this chemical signal by integrating complex stress factors such as drought and temperature-related ecosystems. In addition, recent years have seen growing interest in rare albino individuals of woody species, including albino beech. Due to the absence of chlorophyll and altered relationships between the phloem and xylem, albino shoots may act as "traps for mineral nutrients." Studies on albino sequoias have confirmed elevated concentrations of Cd, Cr, and Ni in albino leaves compared to pigmented ones, indicating potentially high sensitivity to environmental pollution and possible applications in phytoremediation. A similar pattern of heavy metal accumulation can also be observed in albino beech, which can accumulate higher concentrations of heavy metals such as Ni and Cd compared to pigmented individuals. This paper summarizes the current knowledge on the use of beech as a bioindicator of environmental conditions and compares it with available data for albino woody species, with special emphasis on albino beech. It is concluded that the greatest potential lies in combining standardized regional monitoring of common beech with targeted research of albino individuals as extreme models for studying element cycling and heavy metal accumulation.

This scientific paper investigates the spatial distribution and concentration of nickel (Ni) in the organic layer and surface soil (0-10 cm) of forest ecosystems in the Republic of Serbia. The aim of the research is to determine the influence of regional affiliation (Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern, and Central Serbia) and altitude on nickel accumulation in these forest soil components. Samples of organic layer and soil were collected from representative locations across Serbia. Nickel content was determined after digestion of the samples with aqua regia, and concentrations were analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). It is expected that the results will show significant variations in nickel content depending on geographical location and altitude, which may be related to the geological substrate, specific pedogenetic processes, climatic conditions, and anthropogenic influences. The significance of the research lies in assessing the potential risk of nickel toxicity to flora, microorganisms, and other ecosystem components, as well as contributing to the understanding of metal biogeochemical cycles in forest soils. The obtained data will serve as a basis for future research and monitoring of soil quality in forest ecosystems in Serbia.

This study analyzes the chemical composition of three medicinal fungal species: Fomes fomentarius, Ganoderma lucidum, and Trametes versicolor, with the aim of examining their mineral content, essential elements, trace elements, macroelements, and pH in order to evaluate their medical and ecological potential. The fungi are rich in bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides, triterpenes, and phenolic compounds, which are being studied for their potential therapeutic properties, such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. Additionally, the presence of essential minerals and trace elements, such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn), contributes to their nutritional value. The study revealed that the pH values of these fungi vary. Furthermore, the analysis indicated the presence of toxic metals, such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg), which may pose health risks if the fungi are consumed or used for medicinal purposes in pharmaceutical preparations. This paper also discusses the potential of these fungifungis within the context of circular bioeconomy and bioremediation, as well as their role in sustainable production and biodiversity conservation. The results suggest that these fungi have a wide range of potential applications, though further research is required to optimize their use in medicine and ecological processes.

Various symptoms of diseases, including primarily rotting and dieback of branches were recorded on individual trees of boxelder maple (Acer negundo), honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos), and green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) during the urban forest health monitoring in the territory of Serbia. This paper presents the most frequent parasitic and saprophytic fungi related to the decline of these tree species. 14 species in total of lignicolous fungi and 1 species that causes necroses and die-back of trees were recorded. The greatest damages were recorded on boxelder maple (Acer negundo) and green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and the smallest on honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos). The application of protection strategies should be aimed at reducing the source of inoculum for healthy trees. This can be achieved using various forestry measures, which primarily should be aimed at better phytosanitary treatments of parks and park forests of Serbia, as well as the papers aimed at production of phenotypically adequate trees.

Air pollution is one of the key environmental and public health problems of contemporary cities. The aim of this paper was to examine the seasonal dynamics of air pollution in Belgrade during 2025, with particular attention to the role of meteorological conditions and the potential of urban forests and green infrastructure in mitigating population exposure to pollution. The paper is based on a literature review and an analysis of publicly available secondary data, including additional sources on the structure and maintenance of urban greenery in Belgrade. The results indicate a pronounced seasonal variability in air quality, with dominant episodes of suspended particles during the colder part of the year and a greater importance of ground-level ozone during the warmer period. It was observed that meteorological conditions, particularly wind and air ventilation, play an important role in the formation and dispersion of air pollution episodes. The literature review shows that urban forests and green infrastructure can contribute to reducing population exposure to pollution, but that their effect depends on spatial scale, urban form, vegetation structure, and local climatic conditions. The most useful urban planting approach is not based on a single species, but on site-adapted combinations of tolerant trees with high leaf area and suitable crown architecture, including tree avenues and shade trees where ventilation is not obstructed. It is concluded that urban greenery represents an important complementary measure, but not a substitute for reducing emissions at the source.